White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said the US had begun to communicate with Tehran over its detention of American nationals.
Mr Sullivan said the matter was a “complete and utter outrage” and a “humanitarian catastrophe”.
Iran has arrested dozens of dual nationals, including several Americans, in recent years, mostly on espionage charges. Currently, there are four American and Iranian dual nationals held, Baquer and Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Shargi.
Rights activists accuse Tehran of trying to use the detentions to win concessions from other countries, a charge it dismissed.
It was a “significant priority” of President Joe Biden’s administration to bring those Americans “safely back home”, Mr Sullivan told CBS.
“We have begun to communicate with the Iranians on this issue,” he said.
“We will not accept a long-term proposition where they continue to hold Americans in an unjust and unlawful manner.”
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said messages from the Biden administration were received through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, historically the go-between for the two nations, that the new US admin is ready to address the issue. Mr Khatibzadeh said the foreign ministry responded via the same channel saying that that proposal put forward by the Foreign Minister in New York two years ago was still in place.
In a talk at the Asia Society in New York City in 2019 Mr Zarif said, “I put this offer on the table publicly now, exchange them, all these people that are in prison inside the United States, on an extradition request from the United States. We believe their charges are phony. The United States believes charges against these people in Iran are phony. Fine, let’s not discuss that. Let’s have an exchange. I am ready to do it and I have the authority to do it.” Mr Zarif did not make clear which Iranians imprisoned in the US he was asking to have released.
Mr Sullivan said Mr Biden was “determined” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and that diplomacy was the best way to do that.
Although tensions between the Trump Administration and the Iranian government were at an all-time high since the US pulled out of the nuclear accord a prisoner exchange was made in June of 2020. The United States allowed Majid Taheri to travel back to Iran as part of a swap. Michael White, an American who said he contracted the coronavirus while detained in Iran, was in turn freed by the Iranians.
The US said last week it was ready to talk to Iran about returning to the 2015 nuclear accord, abandoned by the Trump administration, that aimed to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons, while lifting most international sanctions.
“Iran has not yet responded,” Mr Sullivan said.
The two countries have been at odds over who should take the first step to revive the deal.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the US would not be able to rejoin the nuclear pact until it lifted sanctions. Washington said Tehran must first return to compliance.
Mr Sullivan also said the US would respond to the SolarWinds cyber attack in “weeks, not months”.
The hack hit several government agencies last year and the US believes Moscow was behind it.
Mr Sullivan said the response would not simply consist of sanctions.
“We will ensure that Russia understands where the United States draws the line on this kind of activity,” he said.
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Read more about the coronavirus
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